Toyota Camry vs Hyundai IONIQ 6

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Toyota Camry in South Africa

Toyota Camry

2.5 Hybrid XSE CVT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 749,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
VS
Hyundai IONIQ 6 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 6

77kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic
ZAR 1,048,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 239 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 519 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance IONIQ 6
Fuel Economy IONIQ 6
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Camry
🔑 Ownership IONIQ 6
Camry starts ZAR 799900 cheaper Camry from ZAR 659,900 · IONIQ 6 from ZAR 799,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Camry IONIQ 6
Engine Power 160 239
Torque 221 605
Engine Size 2487 Not Applicable (Electric Motor)
Claimed Mileage 19.2 519
Ground Clearance 140 140
Boot Space 493 401
Airbags 9 7
Kerb Weight 1575 2155
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

IONIQ 6

90
/ 100
+21
pts
#2

Camry

69
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

IONIQ 6 holds a noticeable edge over Camry, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 6 +7 pts
Efficiency IONIQ 6 +8 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Camry +2 pts
Ownership IONIQ 6 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 6

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 20/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

Camry

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 12/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Camry

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 6

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Camry

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

IONIQ 6

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Camry IONIQ 6
Ground Clearance 140 140
Wheelbase 2825 2950
Length 4885 4855
Width 1840 1880
Height 1445 1495
Kerb Weight 1575 2155
Gross Vehicle Weight 2055 2400 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 493 401
Towing Capacity Not Rated 1500 kg (Braked)
Front Track Width 1575 1626 mm
Rear Track Width 1580 1651 mm
Turning Radius 5.8 5.7 m
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 Available
Load Bed Length Available Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Available Not Applicable
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Camry IONIQ 6
Engine 2.5L Hybrid Petrol-Electric Dual Motor AWD Electric
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder DOHC Hybrid Electric
Displacement 2487 Not Applicable (Electric Motor)
Cylinders 4 Not Applicable (Electric Motor)
Valves per Cylinder 4 Not Applicable (Electric)
Power 160 239
Power @ RPM 5700 rpm Instant Torque (0–7500 rpm)
Torque 221 605
Torque @ RPM 3600 rpm 0–3500 rpm
Fuel System Direct + Port Injection Electric Drive
Turbocharger Not Applicable No
Top Speed 180 185
0-100 km/h 8.3 5.1
Compression Ratio 14.0:1 Not Applicable (Electric)
Engine Position Front Transverse Front
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Available
Engine Code Standard Available
Cylinder Bore 82.0 Available
Piston Stroke 92.0 Available
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Electric
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Inline
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 6 wins with 90 pts vs 69 pts for Camry

In structured scoring, IONIQ 6 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Camry may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the IONIQ 6 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Camry 12 vs IONIQ 6 20. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Camry 20, IONIQ 6 20. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Camry 12, IONIQ 6 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Camry 12, IONIQ 6 10. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Camry 13, IONIQ 6 20. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The IONIQ 6 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 6 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Camry and IONIQ 6 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Camry scores 13 vs 20.

Efficiency: Camry scores 12 vs 20.

Safety: Camry scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Camry scores 12 vs 10.

Ownership: Camry scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 6 the advantage in this comparison.